Facebook - Basics of data protection: everything worth knowing

In a popular network like Facebook, it is important that you always think about data protection. We'll tell you all the basics you should know to protect your own data.

Facebook privacy: what others can see.

Perhaps the most important settings concern information that you may unwittingly share with the public.

• With each status update, photo, video or other content that you share, you can set who can see this content. You will see the corresponding selection window directly next to the "Post" button.
• You can also change this setting for every posting. You can see the corresponding icon for this under your name, usually to the right of the time stamp. You can also change the setting via the Posting menu.
• You should be particularly careful with "public" posts here. These are marked with a small globe and can even be found by people who do not have a Facebook account. However, only users with an account can interact.
• There are certain preset groups such as "Friends" or "Public", but you can also share posts and select only certain people. Conversely, you can also explicitly exclude people.
• If you use this option frequently, you should consider dividing your friends into groups and sharing content with these groups. Another practical tip will show you how to use Facebook lists correctly.
• Caution applies to posts on public pages or the pages of friends - generally pages that you do not control yourself. Here your posts are often publicly viewable, depending on the settings of the page owner.
• It is the same if you leave a "like". Anyone who can see this post will also see your "Like".
• This also works the other way around on your page with comments and "likes" from others. Anyone who can see your post can also read the comments below.
• To quickly check which of your activities can be viewed where and how, you can simply click on "View activity log" in your profile. Here you can see all your activities and who can see them. You can also edit them immediately with the pen icon - for example, remove them directly.

Facebook data protection: Protected profile information

You can also protect your personal information so that only your friends can read more about you.

• You can set and use your profile so that a stranger can see your name at most.
• If you edit your profile, you will see a settings menu for data protection again with almost every entry. There is a lot of publicity here, which you might only want to share with friends.
• Depending on your taste, set this information to "Friends", "Friends of Friends" or "Just Me", for example, to set what you disseminate and how far.
• To check what a profile looks like for a specific person from your friends list or a completely stranger, open your profile. Click on the three dots next to the button "Show activity log" and select "Show from the perspective of ..."
• Your initial public profile will then be displayed. With a click on "Show from the viewpoint of a certain person" at the top of the screen you can also select special people from your circle of friends.
• The privacy settings of the friends list are particularly popular. To do this, open your list and click on the pen at the top right. You can now edit privacy here.
• If one of your friends has not set his list to private as well, turn up here the other way round.

Facebook privacy: photo tags

Photo markers are a particularly sensitive topic.

• With photos you can also set which group can see these photos.
• However, if you mark a person, this person and their friends can also see the picture. If you want to exclude these friends from friends, you must open the photo settings and deactivate "Friends of marked people" in your individual privacy.
• Conversely, if you want more control over posts in which you are tagged, open the settings and select "Chronicle and tags".
• Here you can activate, among other things, that you want to check markings made by friends before they appear in your chronicle.
• You can also disable your friends from seeing posts after they have been marked in them.
• You can also easily remove tags from friends' photos. To do this, open the photo and select "Options" or, if necessary, the three dots. Click on "Remove marker" and the problem is solved.
• However, the photo still exists. If you do not want to see it on the Internet without marking it, write to the owner directly or report the picture.

Facebook data protection: block people

Sometimes a block is the only effective way to get rid of an intrusive person.

• Blocking will end any friendship that may exist.
• You will then no longer be able to be contacted by message and will no longer see comments from the person.
• Your profile will also be completely blocked for this person. They cannot be tagged or added as a friend.
• Public comments from you can still be read. Comments in shared groups or on the side of mutual friends are still visible. However, you will not see any answers.
• To block a person, click on the three dots in their profile and select "Block" here.
• Alternatively, you can also open the Facebook settings and go to "Block" here. In addition to users, you can also block event invitations and applications here. Both are less relevant for data protection, but still very useful.

If Facebook is too insecure for you despite all the information, we will tell you next how to deactivate or delete your Facebook account.